“There’s no need.”
Ivar grabbed her hand, linking their fingers together, before glaring at his brother. “She stays with me.”
Spear held up his hands in mock surrender. The idea was so ludicrous, Ivar snorted. His expression was severe, but there was relief and humor dancing in Spear’s eyes. “Whatever you want. For now.” He shook his head. “You’re a mess.”
His lips twitched as he plucked at his dirty and bloody shirt. “I’ve looked better.”
“Sir.” Two large men in battlesuits waited outside the ship, a stretcher hovering between them. “We should get the prince to the medibay.”
Spear stepped back and allowed them inside, supervising as they loaded him up. It was made even more difficult than it needed to be by the simple fact Ivar wouldn’t release Delphi’s hand.
She’d bolt if he did. She was all but quivering with restlessness, panic flashing in her eyes. But why? They were safe. Weren’t they?
“I’d be dead without Delphi,” he stated. A look passed between him and his brother. When Spear nodded, he finally closed his eyes. Every inch of his body ached with injuries old and new. That there was nothing truly seriously wrong was a miracle.
Then he was floating. Voices spoke, but they came from far away and it was too much effort to answer. Something cool washed over his body, followed by heat. The darkness deepened, swallowing him whole.
****
Curled up in a chair in the medibay, Delphi watched Ivar sleep. His color was much better, his breathing more even. Whatever they’d given him had eased the pain wracking his body.
They’d shaved him. Such a little thing, but she’d never seen him without the beard. His jaw was firm and stubborn. The beard, short as she’d clipped it, had somehow softened his features.
His lips were relaxed and slightly parted. The scar on his face added to his fierce appearance.
She should go to her assigned cabin and get some rest. Her job was done. She’d given a detailed report to the king of Gravas, with Spear, Sass, and her brother listening in. Instead, after she’d cleaned up and changed, she’d found herself back here.
She stays with me.
It didn’t mean anything. He’d been disoriented and hurt and she was familiar. Her stomach growled but she ignored it. She was too tense to eat.
What now?
It was the same question she’d asked herself a hundred times already and still had no answer.
“You’re thinking too loudly.” The sheets rustled as he turned to her and held out his hand. His eyes were clear and free of pain.
It took everything inside her not to grab his hand and hang on for dear life. She clenched her fingers in her lap until he finally lowered it. “I didn’t mean to wake you.” Her heart was jumping in her chest, her stomach fluttering.
“How long have I been out?” There was a subtle difference to him, a confidence he hadn’t had before.
“Better part of a day.”
His eyebrows shot up. “That long?”
“You needed the rest. They’ve given you treatments to speed healing. Two of your ribs were cracked. Several more showed signs of being previously cracked but healed.”
“That’s not a surprise.” When he pushed himself into a seated position, the sheet fell to his waist, exposing the broad expanse of his chest. His very bare chest. It seemed wider, his muscles more defined, which shouldn’t really be possible. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine.” She held up her arm. “It was just a blaster graze. Took a layer of skin. With the treatment, it’s already almost as good as new.” The only injury that would never heal was the one to her heart. It was time for her to take her leave. Ivar was safe and healing and on his way home to his family. “I should be going.”
“Did you mean it?”
She stood and tugged down her top. “I’ll let them know you’re awake. They’ll want to check you over. You’re probably hungry.” And she was babbling. Appalled, she jammed her lips together.
Compassion filled his handsome face. “Delphi.”
A shiver raced up her arms and down her torso, making her nipples hard. She loved the way he said her name.
“I really need to leave.” Before she weakened and threw herself in bed with him. But her feet were rooted to the floor.
He held out his hand once again. “Talk to me.”
How was it possible for a man to be so commanding from a medibed? She locked her weak knees and straightened her shoulders. “There’s nothing left to say. You’re safe. My job is done. My brother and I will be allowed to leave Gravas now.”
Her soul shriveled at the thought of leaving him, but it was the right thing, the only thing to do.
Once again, he lowered his hand. It was big and strong with several small scars. Such a capable hand, one that could fire a blaster and give huge pleasure to a woman. She flushed, her skin warming before going cold.
“Is that all I was? A job?”
She forced herself to shrug. “What else? You have your memories back now. You’ll be able to get back to your life and forget about this unfortunate incident.”
His lips firmed into a scowl and his hands fisted on top of the pristine white sheet covering his lap. “Is that what you intend to do?”
“Yes.” Liar! She’d never forget a single second of her time with him. Even though she’d tried to sound firm and decisive, it came out as more a whisper.
She had to get out of here before she caved. Turning abruptly, she marched to the door. Would he call or back or would he let her go? The silence was deafening. It was what she’d wanted, right? What needed to be.
He was a prince of Gravas. His world was filled with rules and responsibilities. She was an outsider. Good enough to rescue him. But to be with him? His family, his people would never accept her.
And she’d never put him in the position of having to choose.
Spear and her sister were different. As an assassin, Spear stood almost outside the societal structure of his planet. No one would question his choice of bride. They’d fear for their lives. And Sass looked enough like a Gravasian to blend.
With her dark skin, there was no way Delphi could do the same. She’d always be seen as different.
Lungs constricting, she put her hand on her chest. Why did the door seem so far away? Her vision narrowed. The lump in her throat was too big to swallow.
Every part of her ached. It was pure torture to walk away, but it was the right thing to do.
Still, she found her head swiveling around, capturing one final glimpse.
Sitting upright in bed, a frown on his face, his hair neatly trimmed, his jaw shaven, he appeared very different from the man she’d first encountered. Until she looked into his eyes. There was her Ivar, the man she’d love forever.
“Good-bye,” she whispered before slipping out of the room. Oh gods, she couldn’t break down. Not here. Not now. Clenching her jaw, she put one foot in front of the other, managing to nod at several people she passed on the way to her assigned chamber.
As soon as she was inside with the door locked, she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around herself, rocking back and forth, a profound sense of loss gripping her. A low keening sound broke from her lips. Alone, in her room, she cried as she hadn’t done since the night her parents had been killed.
Just as they were lost to her, so was Ivar.
Who would watch his back? Make sure he was safe?
She cried until she was totally empty inside. A numbness settled over her. Her eyes were gritty, her nose running. Every inch of her skin hurt, as though it had been flayed open and exposed to the world.
Hurting as though she’d been beaten, she slowly pushed to her feet and stumbled into the bathing chamber. She stripped off her clothes and stepped into the gel-cleansing unit. Once she was clean, she shuffled back to her room, pulled on some clothes—because an assassin never slept naked—climbed into the bed, and pulled the covers over her head.
She peered into the endless darkness until she finally fell asleep.
****
Letting her leave was the hardest thing Ivar had ever done, but he wouldn’t keep her by his side if she didn’t want to be here. Had he dreamed she’d told him she loved him? Because the woman who’d just left had made it pretty clear she wanted to put their time on Tortuga behind them.
Frustrated, he banged his head against the pillow.
“Don’t scramble your brains any more than they’ve already been. You can’t afford it.” The male voice caught him off guard.
“Where did you come from?” Stupid question. Spear was adept at moving in total silence.
The corners of his brother’s mouth quirked upward. Not quite a smile, but about as close as Spear got. “If I believe what I was told, from our mother and father’s love.”
Ivar laughed and shook his head. “And to think I missed your dry sense of humor.”
“Most people don’t believe I have one.” He stood beside the bed and glared.
“Oh, it’s there. You just have to look really hard for it.”
Spear sat and studied him. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Emotion welled up inside him. He took a couple of deep breaths, settling himself before trying to answer. “Me too.”
“I’m surprised your guard left.”
“Guard?” What was he talking about?
“Delphi has left your side only long enough to speak with our father and get cleaned up and treated. I don’t think she’s even eaten.”
Worried filled him. She didn’t eat as much as she should. Was she in pain? “She told me she was fine. Is her injury worse than she let on?”
Spear shook his head. “Meditechs cleared her. Bumps, bruises, slight dehydration, and a graze from a blaster.” He sat silently for a long minute. “What happened between you two?”
“Nothing.” It was between him and Delphi. The last thing he wanted or needed was a warning or lecture from his older brother.
“Are you lying to me or yourself?”
“Stay out of this, Spear.”
“Intense situations breed intense emotions that aren’t always real.”
It would be a shame if he ruined his homecoming by punching his brother in the face. Not to mention it might end up with him getting another beating. And he’d had enough of those to last a lifetime.
“It’s none of your fucking business.”
Leaning back on the mattress, supporting himself on his hands, Spear nodded. “Of course, sometimes an intense situation can strip away everything and lay us bare.”
Okay, now he was totally confused. “Just what are you trying to say?” Worry about Delphi nagged at him, giving him a headache. Or maybe that was simply a result of his injuries. Either way, it was making it difficult to figure out exactly what his brother was getting at.
The door to the room slid open and a woman strode in. Tall and lean with short black hair and blue eyes, she was striking. “I thought I’d find you here.” She went straight to Spear, leaned down, and kissed him. Even crazier, he kissed her back, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck to keep her there.
Had he entered an alternate reality? Maybe he was still unconscious. That was the only way to explain his brother openly showing affection to a woman. When they separated, Ivar cleared his throat. “I take it I missed something.”
All softness evaporated from the woman’s gaze. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “So this is Ivar.”
“And you are?”
“Sass.”
This was Delphi’s sister? The two women looked nothing alike. But then they weren’t actually related by blood, but by circumstance. “Delphi mentioned you.”
“Did she?”
Why was Sass angry with him? He glanced at Spear but got nothing but a blank stare. Great, his brother had clearly used up his quota of emotion for the next solar month.
There was obviously a lot he needed to catch up on, but this woman was close to Delphi. Pride urged him to keep his mouth shut. After all, she’d walked away from him. But his gut was telling him something was wrong. There was something he was missing, wasn’t seeing.
It was usually his strength—to see beneath the surface of what people said and did. It was what made him such an excellent long-range scout. He’d never admit it, but his head was still a bit addled.
He swallowed hard. “Would you check on her? Please?”
Sass slowly unwound her arms. “Why?”
“She wasn’t herself when she was here.” The more he thought about what she’d said, thought about her actions, the more certain he became. “Something isn’t right with her.”
The hell with sending someone else. He had to see for himself. If she tried to walk away again, he’d follow her until she talked to him. He tossed back the sheet and eased his legs over the side of the bed. He was barefoot and only wore a pair of loose pants. It was good enough.
“Where are you going?” Spear stood in front of him, blocking the exit.
“To find Delphi. Now get the fuck out of my way.” He tried to go around his brother but found his way blocked.
“You don’t know where she is.”
“I’ll find her.” He’d tear the ship apart if he had to, but it wouldn’t come to that. “Computer, where is Delphi?” Being a prince had its perks. His voice print would bypass all security.
“Delphi is on Deck two, cabin “D,” the computer replied.
“Don’t hurt her.” It was a plea and a threat from Sass.
Ivar held on to his patience, but only just. He needed to get to Delphi. “That’s the last thing I want to do.”
“Whatever happened between the two of you on Tortuga, it changed her. She’s withdrawn. I stopped in to see her before I came here. Her door is locked and she won’t answer.” Sass’s worry heightened his.
“She won’t keep me out,” he promised.
“Think carefully before you do anything,” Spear warned. He wrapped his arm around Sass and pulled her close. “There are consequences for actions. Be sure you’re ready for them.”
This was his brother—the man he’d idolized as a kid, the one who’d taught him much of what he knew about defending himself—and Delphi’s sister. They deserved the truth.
“I want to be with her, if she’ll have me. If that means I never step foot on Gravas again, so be it.” His world had strict rules about outsiders, but Delphi was his heart. He’d miss his family if he was banished from his world, but his brothers would visit wherever he ended up. And in truth, he was used to being gone more than he was being there, his missions taking him away for months at a time.
Spear stepped aside, drawing Sass with him. Ivar stalked out of the room and headed where the computer had directed him, ignoring the startled looks he received from everyone he passed.
When he was outside her chamber, he hit the call button. “Delphi, open up.” Silence. He tried again. “We need to talk.”
He placed his hand on the door. She was trying to keep him out.
Consequences.
He pressed his forehead against the panel. She was still trying to protect him, even now. “I won’t let you do it. Not this time. Computer, override security, open door, and secure it behind me.”
“Overriding security.”
The room was dark. He stepped inside and the computer followed instructions. “Lights on low,” he ordered.
There was no movement from the lump under the bedcovers. “Go away.” Her voice was hoarse.
If she wanted a fight, he’d give her one. “Make me.”
Chapter Fourteen
Maybe if I ignore him, he’ll go away.
Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. Staying under the covers was preferable, but he wouldn’t leave until he had his say.
I can do this.
She had no other choice. Drawing on all the strength she possessed, she pulled a blanket of calm around her and rolled out of bed, grateful she was fully dressed
except for her boots. “What do you want?”
He walked slowly toward her, his gaze sweeping her from head to toe. Her entire body quivered. “You’ve been crying?” It sounded like an accusation.
She flinched when he stroked his fingers over her cheek. “It’s nothing.”
Back in the medibay, he’d been flat on his back in bed. Now he towered over her, making her even more aware of his muscled arms and chest. It would be so easy to lean against him, to rest her head on his chest and listen to the firm beat of his heart.
“I know what you’re doing.” His deep voice seeped under her skin, warming her. It wasn’t fair how her body responded to his nearness.
“What I’m doing is trying to sleep. I haven’t gotten much lately.” Be professional. Keep it impersonal.
“That’s my fault. Thank you for staying with me.”
Who had told him? Could have been anyone since it wasn’t exactly a secret. She forced herself to shrug. “Someone had to watch out for you. I have a stake in your arriving home in one piece.”
His jaw tightened and a muscle flexed. Didn’t like that, did he? Too bad. She needed to keep the distance between them.
He stroked his thumb over her jaw. It would be smarter to step away, but she couldn’t seem to make her legs obey. She yearned for his touch, for the gentleness and caring he’d brought into her life.
Emotions make you weak.
That had been drilled into her since she was a child in training to become an assassin. But she loved her brother and Sass. That emotion had been used to manipulate and control all of them.
Now it gave Ivar something to use against her.
“So you were just doing your job?”
“Right.”
“Liar,” he whispered as he leaned down. His lips hovered over hers. She swallowed heavily, her mouth dry.
Move away. Now!
Her legs refused to listen. She rose on her toes and pressed her lips against his.
Hadn’t she already cried over him, let him go once? Why was she doing this?
Because there was no other choice. For better or worse, she loved him. It made no logical sense, but she didn’t care.
“Delphi.” He said her name once before dragging her against him, his arms banding around her, holding her as though he’d never let her go.
Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas Book 2) Page 13